(Madrid, Nov. 27) -- Juan Antonio Samaranch, the former President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), appealed to China on Tuesday to support Madrid, the capital of Spain, in its bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics Games.

Samaranch, a former president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, expressed hope that his Chinese friends would support Madrid, just as Madrid had done for them when they applied for the 2008 Olympic Games. Samaranch made the remarks in a speech at the opening ceremony of the Forth Spain - China Forum. Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu and Spain's First Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega were also present.

Madrid had lost the competition in July 2005 to hold the 2012 Summer Olympics Games, placing third after Paris and London, who won the bid.

Madrid faces challenges from rival cities such as Doha, Chicago, Tokyo, and Prague in the bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. The results of the bid will be announced by IOC in October 2009 in Copenhagen.

Supported vigorously by Samaranch, the Spanish city Barcelona held the Olympics Games in 1992.